Rebuilding Gaza: The Long Road to Recovery Begins**

As displaced Gazans begin their journey home, the scale of destruction and the urgent need for shelter, food, and infrastructure becomes painfully clear, with significant humanitarian challenges ahead.**

The long trek home has started for thousands of Gazans who have been displaced for the past 15 months. The Gaza Strip, a fragile territory, now lies in ruin after the recent conflicts, forcing inhabitants into an uncertain future. Gazan journalist Ghada el-Kurd expressed the dire situation, stating, "We have to re-establish again from the beginning, from zero," as she returned from her makeshift shelter in Deir el-Balah.

While immediate needs such as food and shelter are beginning to be addressed, the enormity of the challenges is daunting. Sam Rose from the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, noted, "Aid is flowing at levels we've not seen since the start of the conflict," reaching basic requirements like food, water, and hygiene items. However, many people, including the UN, recognize that the path ahead is lengthy.

An estimated 700,000 individuals fled from Gaza City and adjacent areas, while others remained despite the chaos. As many as 70% of Gaza’s buildings have suffered damage or destruction since October 2023, with localized devastation seen in Jabaliya, a city home to a significant refugee camp before the war. This destruction has left many returning residents facing the looming threat of homelessness.

With requests for 135,000 tents and caravans pouring in, the urgency is palpable. The UN has pledged to deliver 20,000 tents previously stalled at the border, but logistical challenges coupled with surging demands for temporary shelters mean immediate solutions are scarce. “There simply aren't that many manufactured tents for aid operations anywhere in the world,” Mr. Rose explained.

Tensions are rising among those who stayed throughout the conflict, as the return of refugees causes intense competition for already limited housing. Asmaa Tayeh, who has sheltered her family in Jabaliya, described overcrowded conditions as more families converge on her residence, increasing strain and conflict.

As daily life resumes, the returnees face astronomical prices for goods, exacerbated by a strained economy desperately seeking stability. The notion of returning home brings bittersweet relief; one woman announced her joy in returning to Beit Hanoun despite the overwhelming hardships ahead.

International dialogue around the situation has intensified, especially concerning US former President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion of relocating Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan temporarily. This idea met with swift rejection from officials in both countries, who are apprehensive about the implications of accepting more refugees, particularly those deeply affected by trauma.

President Trump's proposal surprisingly resonated with some Israeli far-right officials eager for more radical measures. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich enthused over the idea, but many Gazans fear without dedicated efforts to rehabilitate their homeland, the hope for a sustainable future may fade.

Despite Ghada el-Kurd’s alarm at the rapid departure of many Gazans seeking better lives elsewhere, she implores the necessity for rebuilding within Gaza itself. "People deserve a better life," she emphasized. As the journey home officially begins, the horizon remains clouded with uncertainty for Gaza’s future.